Suffocating Defense Defines Early Season Success for Lady Bobcats

The Lady Bobcats basketball team is off to a hot start, winning their first five contests of the 2015-16 season. The early returns for BSC have been nothing short of dominant.

Averaging 77.8 points per game and only allowing an average of 39 points-per-game, the Lady Bobcats have established themselves as a force at both ends of the court. Their most convincing victory came on November 8 against Thomas Nelson Community College as the Bobcats rolled to an 88-11 victory.

The 11 points allowed drastically drops the average points allowed this season, but even with last week’s suffocating defensive performance factored in, the Bobcats are averaging just 46 points per game against. The defensive success stems from a ball-hawking group led by Gabby Swinson who is tied for fifth in the nation with 18 steals. Three other Bobcats have 14 steals on the season, helping to stifle offensive sets time and again.

Swinson has been dominant at both ends of the court again this season, ranking 10^th in the nation in overall scoring, one spot behind teammate Breona Cowan. The pair have driven the offensive engine for the Bobcats thus far, an engine that sees BSC ranked fifth overall in total points scored early in the year. It’s been easy sailing for the Lady Bobcats for the most part.

Dominant wins over Northern Virginia (89-50), Spartanburg Methodist (72-38) and CCBC Cantonsville (80-47) painted a picture of a juggernaut. They came back to earth in a tight affair against Cape Fear. BSC’s shooters went cold in their 60-49 victory and while the stout defense came to play, BSC had to overcome a dismal 33.9 shooting percentage from the field. Powered by 33 Cape Fear turnovers and a 25-point third quarter, the Bobcats rallied after putting up only 21 points in the first half.

It was a quick return to dominance, however, as the Bobcats exerted their will against Thomas Nelson, shutting their opponent out in the first quarter and taking a 51-3 lead into the half. Thomas Nelson wouldn’t break double digits until late in the fourth quarter as a pair of field goals pushed them past 10 points. Breona Cowan led the way with 20 points and Quaylin Hilbert added 16 more off the bench to pace BSC.

The next challenge for the Bobcats comes in eight days as they play on back-to-back days against Globe Tech on November 21 and ASA New York on November 22. Then it’s a six-day layoff until their date with Central Carolina Community College.